Breech-loading ordnance.



c. HOLMSTRM.

BREEGH LOADING ORDNANCE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3. 1914.

Patented July 30, 1918.

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. c. HoLMsHM.

BREECH LOADING ORDNANCE. APPLICATION l.F-ILED NOV. 3, |914.

Patented July 30, 1918.

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UNl E sfrrns rfrnnfr onnion.

CARL HOLMSTRM, OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON, ENGLAND; KATHERINE ANNETTE HOLMSTROM EXECUTRIX 0F SAID CARL ALBERT HOLMSTRM, DECEASED.

BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE.

Application filed November 3, 1914.

17 h all Iwhomy t may concern:

Be it known that l. CARL HoLirs'rnM, a subject of the .King otl Great Britain, residing at S The Sanctuary, lVestminster, in the county of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or lelating to Breech-Loading Ordnance, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly but not exclusively to breech loading ordnance or the kind set forth in the specification of British Patent No. 933 of 1906, in which the breech screw after having been angularly displaced to unlock it is moved rearwardly in the swinging carrier in a rectilinear path by means of a pair of cranks or pivoted arms mounted on the carrier at a point behind the breech screw and adapted to cooperate with flanges or cam grooves on the face of the screw to exert a powerful rearward pull or toggle-like action. The said cranks or pivoted arms may be moved by an operating rack which is formed with a groove for the reception of a guide bolt carried by a pivoted lock frame, the said groove thus serving to rock the lock frame 'to and from its open position; this arrangement is set forth in the specification of British Patent No. 11111 of 1906.

According toV my present invention I employ a tube orprimer loading device which comprises in addition to the known movable primer carrier, a displaceable primer actuating member which serves when moved in the proper direction to permit or effect the movement of the primer carrier into a position opposite the aXial vent, further movement of the said member then pushing a primer from the carrier into the primer chamber of the axial vent. Movement of the primer actuating member in the opposite direction first causes it to be displaced outwardly relatively to the primer carrier and to then move the latter into a position convenient for enabling a new primer to be inserted. The lock frame may be left in the partly open position when the breech mechanism is closed (i. e. in a position in which the lock frame resiliently overlaps the primer chamber of the axial vent in order to retain the primer in place after its insertion as will be under stood by reference to the aforesaid British Patent No. 11111 of 1906 and to the earlier British Patent No. 15364: of 1901 referred to in the said British Patent No. 11111 of 1906),

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1918.

Serial No. 870,003.

and means are provided whereby the closing of the lock frame may be elected by the displacement of the primer carrier to its inoperative position.

The portion of the groove in the operating rack that engages with the guide bolt when the breech mechanism is closed and locked is so formed that when the breech mechanism is closed and locked the lock frame remains in its partly open position as aforesaid.

lt has heretofore been usual to insert a new primer when the breech is open or partly open, but in the arrangement described above it is desirable to prevent a primer from being inserted unless the breech mechanism is closed and locked; with this object in view the portion ofthe groove of the operating rack that engages with the guide bolt after the lock frame has been caused to overlap the primer chamber, is made of the same width as the diameter of the guide bolt and so arranged that the lock frame is firmly retained in its overlapping position.

ln order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect I will describe the same more fully Vwith reference to the accompanying draw- .ings in which Figures l, 2 and 3 are api-ear elevation, a

4sectional plan and a side elevation of a portion of thebreech screw carrier showing a constructional form of the invention.

Figs. at, 5 and 6 are sections taken approximately on theV line 1, 1 of Fig. 1 showing the primer carrier and its associated parts in three dierent positions.

Figs. T and S are rear elevations showing the lock frame in two different positions.

Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of the operating rack showing the preferred form of the groove therein, and

Fig. 10 is a section taken longitudinally through the guide bolt.

In these gures A is the breech screw carrier, B the lock frame, B the box slide, B2 the guide bolt carried by the lock frame, C the operating rack and C the groove therein for engaging with the guide bolt. D represents the primer carrier and E the primer actuating member.

ln the example shown the primer carrier D is loosely mounted on a spindle D which is supported in a bracket A on the breech screw carrier and which is arranged transby a plunger c slidably mounted inthe-y primer carrier D. The primer carrier D has `spring.controlled.jaws (Z, l which iesil-i'ently hold the primer in its central position so that it can be properly inserted into the 4primer chamber Wheiithe primer carrier as- 'suines its lowermostor primer charging position.V The said carrier also has a spring controlled retaining catch d which normally (il c. until the carrier rea-ches the position slioifvninv Ifigs.y 5 and 6) coperates With the forivard eiidfo'lthe primer in' the carrier and prevents lit from being displaced by Vany pressure exerted on the base by the plunger The retaining catchffl is adapted to be displacedinto the position shown in Figs.v 5 and 6 by a slide Z2 which by its cooperation withY an incline 72"' on the box;` slide B disp l ces the' slide to rock the catch about its pivot Aviiitojthe disengaging position. Further movement of the arm E then forces the primer into its chamber in the ventY axial. The slide cl2 is prevented from moving as Vabove indicated until the carrierlis in the positionfshorvn byFigs; 5 and by aportion of the bracket "wlii.ch is cut away as indicatedfat a. to permit this movement to take place when thel parts are in thel position shown. Thisportion ofthe bracket A acts as a cani which serves to return the slide (Z2 to its' originalrposition vvhen the carrier is being raised and to cause the retaining catch df to nip and" extract the primer in the event of' its not being fully inserted,' thereby preventing jamming of .the partsdurin'g, the

closing ofthe frame.

' transverse spindle D is controlled byV :a'helical csr-"other spring D2 (Fig. 2) normally serving to retain the carrier Dv iny its raised-position' and is provided` at its outer endv contiguous to the hinge pin .of the Abreech screiv carrier, With a handleV D3 so that this spindle can be actuated While the operator occupies a position out ofl the path of recoilof# the gun. i Y

Itwvill beV observed from Figs. l and fi that the primer carrier normally occupies a position in Which the primer or primers are not inalinement'ivith; the Vent but at a considerable angle thereto,so that in the event efface-idental ignition of the primer taking place the iiashfcannotenter the vent.

Thelock trame7 as Will be hereinafter describedis left in the part-ly open position (that is, a position in ivhich it is caused by 'a spring plungenBX ('Fi'g. l) to resiliently overlap the primer chamber) during the closingof the breech mechanism and'during the lifting` of the'primer carrier is closed by a member E2 operated by the aforesaid transversespindle. 'This member in the example shown hasthe torni of an arm hinged at c2 to. the bracket A andvis operated by bevel gearing from. the Vsaid spindle. The outer end of this arm is adapted, during its upward movement and the upward movement of the carrier D, to engage With the lock -tilaine and displace it to the Aclosed position and the said outer end carries a spring plunger or bolt which, by its cooperation with an inclined surface on the lock frame, enables the arm to move downward after they lock` frame has been opened.

' Referring more particularly to Figs. 7 to ,1,0 in Whichthe rack C is illustrated it` Will Ybe seen that, assuming the rack to be one that ,inoves. from lett tov rig-ht during the opening oft-the breech mechanism74 the lei''t vhandportion c of the groove C is made of the saine'ividthas .the diameter ofthe guide bolt- B?. VThe portion c of the groove thus serves to,4 positively hold the lock frame in the yoverlapping position shown in Fig. l7 when4 the breech mechanism is open vvand thereby prevents a primer from being in-f seited'. Y In order to'enable the lock frame to reillliii in the p artlysropen position YVduring the closingl of the breech vmechanism the righthandportion ofthe grooif'e may be enlargedv and formed With van incline c2V terminating in, fiat c?. upon which the guide bolt B2' rests when the breech mechanism is fully 'closed and lockedandfromivhich it can be displaced byhand'after the insertion of a primer vini order toV permit it to move from the said fiat and, tjoenterthe extreme right hand portion of' the groove this portion be-V ing'at a lower levelY than the, said flat to `form'aA shoulder c4' Which prevents the guide bolt from moving with the lock frame in the nerY thellock frame is heldin such aV position that theiiring pin or striker is in alinenient with Athe aXisof the vent chamber thereby lpreventing misiiresirom taking4 placed'ue to V lopeling directioi'i Wit-hout :the guide bolt v` having firstbeengwithdliuvn,Y In this man an incorrect position of the firing., pin. Duringxthe closing of the breech the guide bolt bears .against the upper Wallfof the' straight portion of the. groove, falls into the de',- pressled portion 04X and thenv mounts the in'n eline vasV aforesaid. During the opening of `the-breechv the guide bolt engagesin the inclined orVA curved' portion 03X i of the groove and then passes by an inclined part c2X into the left hand end ofthe groove. Theshoul# d'er'cX serves to move the lock frame to its n overlapping" position.

Itis possible that'fthe copera-tion of' the aforesaidfY incline C? with the guide bolt may inove`the=lock-ranie tovvard'its closed positien, andin orderto prevent any suchpossibility' the lock frame'is shown as provided with a proj eetion orspring plunger b? 7,' 8 andlO) which engagesY with the under (Figs. Y Y

side oi the operating rack C- during the closing of the breech mechanism. The operating rack is suitably groovcd or slotted at c to accommodate the spring plunger; another' plunger L2* (Fig. 10) may if desired be arranged above the guide bolt in addition to or in substitution for the above mentioned plunger ZF. For the accommodation of this plunger' the rack is grooved or slotted atl 0'.

What I claim and desire to secure bv Letters Patent of the United States is1- 1. `In breechy loading ordnance, tlie"'coinbi nation with the breech screw carrier, of a primer carrier and a primer actuating member, both movable in the same direction and in a curvilinear path relativelyv to the breech screw carrier. and'means for moving said member to effect the movement of the carrier into a position opposite the primer chamber ot the axial vent and to then insert a primer from the carrier into the primer chamber.

" 2.111 breech loading ordnance, the combination ivith a pivoted primer carrier, of a primer actuating member pivoted to move about the same axis as the, carrier, and means for moving said member to ed'ect the movement of the carrier into a position opposit-e the primer chamber of the axial vent and to then insert a primer from the carrier into the primer chamber.

3. In breech loading ordnance, the combination with the breech screw carrier, oi a movable primer carrier and a primer actuating member both movable in the same direction and in a curvilinear path relatively to the breech screiv carrier, a device for retaining the primer in position in the carrier, and means for displacing this retaining device as the carrier assumes a position opposite the primer chamber of the axial vent.

4c. In breech loading ordnance, the combination With a primer carrier, a shaft on which this carrier is loosely mounted, an arm rigidly mounted on said shaft, a device for retaining the primer in position in the carrier and means 'for displacing this retaining device as the carrier assumes a position opposite the primer chamber or' the axial vent.

5. In breech loading ordnance, the combination with the lock frame of a device movable independently oi' the lock frame for inserting primers into the primer chamber of the axial vent, and means also movable in dependently of the lock frame for extractn ing the primer from this chamber in the event of its not having been fully inserted therein.

6. In breech loading ordnance, the combination With the lock frame of a primer ear rier movable independently of the lock :frame and a device for inserting primers from this carrier into the primer chamber of the axial vent, of means mounted in said carrier for extracting the primer 'from this chamber during the movement of the carrier to its inoperative position, in the event or this primer not having been fully inserted.

7. In breech loading` ordnance, the combinationwith a movable primer carrier, et' a primer actuating member, a device for retaining the primer in position `in the carrier, means for displacing` this retaining device as the carrier assumes a position opposite the primer chamber ot the axial vcnl, and means for causing said device to engage ivith the primer in the event et' its not havmgbeen properly inserted in its chamber and to extract the said primer duringthe movement er the primer carrier te its inop era tive v position. I

S. In breech loading ordnance, the combination with the lock trame. ot' a movable device for inserting a primer into its cham- -bcr in the axial vent, meansY for leaving the lock frame in the partl;7 open position ivhen the breech mechanism is locked and means, dependent upon the displacement of the said de yice to its inoperative position, for shifting the lock frame to its closed position.

9. In breech loading ordnance, the com bination with the lock frame, of a movable primer carrier, manual means for moving said carrier to and from its operative position opposite the primer chamber of the axial vent, means for leaving the lock frame in a partly open position ivhen the breech mechanism is closed and a member, operated b v said manual means, for closing the lock frame when the primer carrier is being moved to its inoperative position.

10. In breech loading ordnance, the combination with the lock frame, of a spring operating upon said lock frame when the latter is in the open position, a grooved member, actuated by the breech mechanism, for operating the lock frame, the groove in this member being so formed that the lock frame is opened during the opening of the breech mechanism and is released When the breech mechanism is locked so that the spring operating on the lock frame can move the latter to a position overlapping the primer chamber.

11. In breech loading ordnance, the combination With the lock frame, of a spring operating upon said lock frame when the latter is in the open position, a guide bolt carried by the lock frame, a member operated by the breech mechanism and having a groove for the reception of the guide bolt, said groove being so formed that the lock trame is opened during the opening of the breech mechanism and is released when the breech mechanism is locked so that the spring operating on the lock frame can move the latter to a position overlapping the primer chamber.

12. In breech loading ordnance, the combination With the lock frame, of a guide bolt carried by the lock frame, a member operated by the breech mechanism and having a groove forthe reception of the guide bolt, said groove being sol formed that the Y lock frame is opened during the opening of the breech mechanism and` is kleft in the partly open position when the breech-mechanism is locked, and means for positively preventing the lock frame from being displaced from this position until thefl breech mechanism is locked'.

13. In breech loading ordnance7 the coin'-Y bination with the lock iframe,V of ak guide bolt carried by' the lock frame, a member operated by the breech mechanisn'r and; having a groove for the reception of the guide bolt, said groove `being so formed that the 'from' being displaced from this positionl until the breech mechanism is locked.

14. Inbreech load-ing ordnance, thel combination with the lock frame, of means for causing. the latter to overlap the primer chamber of the axial vent and for positively preventing it from moving from this position. When.` the breech mechanism is fully open, the lock. frame thusr preventing a primer from being inserted at this time. f

15.. In breech loading ordnance, the combination withv the lock frame, of a guideY bolt carriedv thereby;Y a member operated by the breech mechanism and having a groove for the' reception of the guide bolt, said groove being soformed that the lock frame Yis positively heldin ay lposition to overlap 'the primer chamber of the axial vent when the breech: mechanism 1s fully open, Ythe lock. frame thus preventing, a primer from bein'g inserted at this time.

In: testimony whereof IV aiiX my 1n presence of two Witnesses.

Y CARL HoLMsTRoMQ signature lVitnesses I. lVL DAvms, E'. C. WALKER.'

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